April 27, 2009 Issue 138 Digital Info Not Compelling To PDs iTunes single sales, ringtones, ringbacks, MySpace streams, Tweet heat and Facebook chatter. There are more ways than ever to track the music people like and are buying. And, it’s virtually instantaneous. But these new digital and online tools have yet to become part of Country programmers information arsenal. In fact, two of the six PDs/MDs we talked to for this piece don’t look at any of these digital tools at all as part of their music decision-making process. For everyone else we talked to, the use of digital data is marginal. KKGO/Los Angeles morning teamers Ashley Paige (l) and Shawn Parr “I occasionally look at Big Champagne but (r) meet ‘n’ greet a handful of the more than 100,000 country fans who don’t put that much stock into it,” admits WMIL/ attended last weekend’s third annual Stagecoach Festival. Milwaukee PD Kerry Wolfe. “Most of the downloads seem to be from artists who appeal to Stagecoach Rolls Through LA teenage girls, and that’s not my target audience.” Official attendance figures aren’t out yet, but by all accounts Wolfe adds that another problem he has with Big the 2009 Stagecoach Festival was a resounding success. Champagne is that the data “… bounces all over Kerry Wolfe KKGO/Los Angeles morning talent Shawn Parr was there and the place from day to day.” Instead, he prefers reports record attendance of approximately 50,000 people each a tool he’s had for awhile: SoundScan sales data. “I study it every on Saturday and Sunday. (The festival was shortened from last week and find it to be quite reliable. As I increase airplay, sales year’s three-day event.) increase. And it’s more consistent.” Wolfe adds that despite the fact “They actually had to move some stuff to make room for all sales can be a lagging indicator, he uses it to determine rotations. the fans,” Parr tells Country Aircheck. “They were at capacity “SoundScan is usually only a week or so behind,” he says. “so, there and talking about being sold out by Friday morning. But when are times when I’ll move things into a hotter rotation if I see a trend of you’re talking about $99 for the weekend with that lineup, you increased sales.” can see it was a great deal.” Digital data isn’t part of WPCV/Lakeland, FL PD Mike James’ Brad Paisley, Reba and Little Big Town anchored Saturday process either. “We’re pretty much old school here,” he says. (4/25), with Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock and Miranda Lambert (continued on page 5) atop Sunday’s bill. Asked about the newer artists getting ©2009 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 27, 2009 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 2 attention, Parr says, “Everybody’s talking about Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum and the Zac Brown Band. MY TUNES : MUSIC THA T SHAPED MY LIFE “Darius really solidified his place in country music Saturday,” WFRE/Frederick, MD PD Jess Wright Parr continues. “Certainly for Southern California he did. He’s discusses her most important songs, artists very personable and everyone embraced him. Brad Paisley came or concerts: 1. Fleetwood Mac, Rumors : When I was a out to sing with Darius on David Allan Coe’s ‘You Never Even kid my dad used to crank this up, especially Called Me By My Name.’ That was about five hours before Brad “Don’t Stop” and “Go Your Own Way”. Brings was supposed to go on. back great childhood memories, and is also “And you’d be blown away to see how many people didn’t just an awesome bunch of music. I still crank walk, ran to see Charlie Daniels after Darius finished. This it up every time! Jess Wright wave of people just sprinted about 200 yards to the Palomino 2. Blondie, Heart of Glass: This was the very first cassette I ever got. I think I was about 9 Stage. The fire marshals were trying to control the crowd; it was and I bought it with my own money. I listened to it over and over, that packed.” and yeah, I knew every word to “Rapture.” Don’t hate. The huge crowd, and their enthusiasm, didn’t exactly disperse 3. Counting Crows, August and Everything After: This came out quickly Sunday night. “There were people still coming home as the first year I was in radio. Not only does it bring back some great we were coming on the air this morning saying they just got out memories of first starting out in the business, but I just love the sound. And, it brings back memories of a dear friend. One who put of the parking lot at 1am, gassed up, got something to eat and me in a production room and made me do the same liner over the rolled on,” Parr says. “Two hours of sleep and going to work.” same intro on a reel to reel until I sounded natural and not like I This remarkable event most likely owes some of its success was reading or “playing DJ.” She died a few years ago, and I think of to the increased listening at KKGO, which heavily promoted her every time I hear a song from this album. the festival. “We gave away 1,100 tickets over the course of 4. Dixie Chicks, Fly: I didn’t always know that I loved country music, three or four months,” Parr says. “And for the 50,000 who were and this was the first country CD I owned. I love the way they sound on the radio (or did, when it was ok to play them). there, they could have sold 50,000 more easily. I’ve never seen 5. The Manhattan Transfer, The Very Best of...: I discovered anything like it in Southern California.” them through our vocal jazz group in high school. I’m a sucker for harmonies, I love the style of music, and I could sing along to it all day. In fact, please hold while I go sing “Ray’s Rock House.” CC Changes Imminent • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: I Clear Channel market managers and honestly can’t think of one. When I hear about something enough, programmers will reportedly receive their I go find it and listen to it. Whether I love it or not, I want to know marching orders tomorrow, as they get details what the hype is about. on implementing the company’s plan to • An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Is that song, improve program quality for all day parts. “I’m In Love With A Stripper” considered important? Because I don’t get that at ALL. This plan, which includes “New Channels, Premium Choice” • An album you played or listened to incessantly: Fleetwood for local PDs and “Sophisticated Talent Analysis,” was unveiled Mac’s Rumors off and on throughout my life. New Edition’s self- in an April 15 press release. The April 20 Country Aircheck titled album when I was 12, Michael Jackson’s Thriller when I was Weekly offered some educated guesses into what was coming. 13 or 14, Janet Jackson’s Janet when I was in college, and recently, And now, on the eve of the roll-out, a few more details Randy Houser’s Anything Goes. • One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen are emerging. Advance word is that beginning this Saturday, to right now: “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You” by weekends at the vast majority of CC stations will originate from Stevie Nicks. outside the market. That means hundreds of partimers will be ©2009 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 27, 2009 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 3 laid-off in the coming days. Stations will carry shows from a BIR T HDAYS network that will feature four, six-hour dayparts of voice-tracked programming. It’s believed that stations all over the country will Wednesday (4/29) – Duane Allen, Stephanie Bentley-Proutt, James Bonamy, Beverlee Brannigan ([email protected]), Rosie be airing the identical programming, except for local breaks. Fitchpatrick ([email protected]), Lisa Kosty, Debby Turpin (debby@ Early word is there will be two six-minute local spot sets. It’s ksopcountry.com) unknown whether the Country programming will be identical to what airs on CC’s “iheartradio” Country Road channel. Thursday (4/30) – Willie Nelson, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Robert Reynolds, Tyler Wilkinson, Steve Amari ([email protected]), Radiothon Roundup Dana Burwell, Chuck Rhodes ([email protected]) Here’s a look at recent St. Jude Radiothon results turned in by Friday (5/1) – Tim McGraw, Helen Darling, Ilene Berns, Carrie Long, Country radio: Louie Newman ([email protected]), Lindsay Walleman • KOLZ/Cheyenne, WY, $21,545 ([email protected]), Tanya Welch • WDNE/Elkins, WV, $21,440 • KWHQ/Kenai, AK, $20,227 Saturday (5/2) – Larry Gatlin, Ty Herndon, Brian Jennings ([email protected]), Buzz Ledford, Tammy Ragusa Around The Horn ([email protected]) Due West has officially announced Sunday (5/3) – Eric Church, Brad Martin, Shane Minor, Jerry Salley, the formation of their label, Bigger Stoney Richards ([email protected]) Than Me, whose principals include band members Matt Lopez, Brad Hull and Tim Gates, along Monday (5/4) – Randy Travis, Rick Barker, George Collier (gcollier@ with producer Jason Deere and entrepreneur Darren Dixon.